TRANSCRIPT
THE HON PETER COSTELLO MP
Treasurer

Full transcript
of

Interview with Catherine McGrath
ABC – AM

8.00am

Friday, 18 July, 2003

SUBJECTS: Graeme Samuel

TREASURER:

Well I think that it is important that we get the best person in the job to

be chairman of the ACCC. As you know I believe that that best person is Graeme

Samuel and nobody has nominated a better candidate. Mr Samuel previously had

the support of four of the Labor States and Territories and South Australia

makes a fifth and I recognise the fact that Kevin Foley has considered this

on a basis of the best person prepared for the job and has given his support

accordingly.

JOURNALIST:

Well, Kevin Foley has also indicated that he won’t be supporting Louise

Sylvan as the deputy. Where does that leave you?

TREASURER:

Well, obviously I will contact the other States and Territories and I believe

that there is a majority support for Louise, and we have nominated Louise to

be the deputy to Graeme Samuel, but I think what we will do is we will confirm

all of these arrangements with further negotiations with the States concerned.

You have got a situation, a very unusual situation, where somebody appointed

by the Commonwealth has to get a majority support out of eight States and Territories,

that is five votes. Now the Commonwealth doesn’t even get a vote even

though the Commonwealth funds this organisation in its entirety.

JOURNALIST:

Well on that point because that is how this whole argument began, a deadlock

between four States and Territories for Graeme Samuel and against. Now that

you have your required votes do you expect New South Wales, ACT and Queensland

to also support Graeme Samuel?

TREASURER:

Look it is possible that some of them could, in private conversation some

of the others have indicated to me that they actually…

JOURNALIST:

Should they, I mean do you need that co-operation?

TREASURER:

Well, you don’t actually need their votes, but for example the opposition

to Mr Samuel has been run out of New South Wales whereas Bob Carr has been telling

everybody who will listen that he personally supports Graeme Samuel and thinks

that he is a fine man but notwithstanding that he can’t do anything about

New South Wales’ vote, so in my discussions with some of others some of

the others are actually supportive of Graeme Samuel, but it doesn’t matter

now because of course there is the required majority.

JOURNALIST:

Now Professor Fels was famous for the amount of media attention he got. He

was also famous for taking on big business and for slanging matches he had with

people like Gerry Harvey, and groups like the Australian Chamber of Commerce

and Industry believe that he went too far. Is this a new era as far as you are

concerned with Graeme Samuel?

TREASURER:

Oh no he will be very pro-competition. Now let’s be clear about this

point. The reason why there was opposition to the appointment of Graeme Samuel,

particularly out of New South Wales from Treasurer Egan was because he was pro-competition.

Let’s be clear about this point. While he was running the National Competition

Commission he was too pro-competition for the liking of some of the state officials.

And I expect him to be very pro-competition. Now, you said before that Professor

Fels got into slanging matches, well whether he did or whether he didn’t

I am not sure that is entirely fair to Professor Fels, but what we expect is

somebody who enforces the law without fear or favour. It’s not a publicity job.

This is somebody who looks at situations and enforces a statute designed to

promote competition in our society, and I have great confidence because of his

track record and the way in which he took on vested interests that Graeme Samuel

can do that job.

JOURNALIST:

Treasurer, thanks for your time.

TREASURER:

Thank you very much.